Centrifugal gun



J. H. PARSONS.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN.

APPLICATLON FILED OCT. 16, 1918.

1,40 137, Patented Feb. 28,1922. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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CENTRIFUGAL GUN- APPLICATION EILED 0,cT.16,19|a.

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UNITED srArgs PATENT or fice.

JOHN H. PARSONS, or RIDLEY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIoNon or ONE-FOURTH '10 ARTHUR c. BUNNELL, or RIDLEY PARK, rENNsigLvANIA, ANDONE To DANIEL J. NOBMOYLE, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, JoHNH. PAnsoNs, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at Rid- I tion.

- tion -is to provide a ley State of Pennsylvania,

Park, in the county have invented new i and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Guns, of which the following is a specifica-- L in operation ensures the firing of a constant stream of bullets without liability of cloggingor choking, and which, while not liable to easily get out. of order, may be readily, quickly and conveniently cleaned and repaired i when occasion requires.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a centrifugal gun embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 22.0 f Figure 1.

Figure 33s a vertical longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6' is a detail section on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view in rear elevation of the gun, showing the substitution of a hand crank in place of an electric motor for driving the machine.

Specificat' -n of Letters Patent.

of Delaware and object of the 'invenfully described and Patented Feb. 23,1922;

Application filed October 16, 1918. Serial No. 25/815320.

Figure 8-is a view inelevation looking toward the side of the gun at which the r drive gearing is arranged.

Flgure 9 is a sectional plan view'on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a detail section on line 10 -10 of Figure 1.

Fi ure 11 is a detail section on line 11-11 of Figure 1. 1

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body or stock of the gun which. also forms the breech, and which isprovided with V i the barrel 2, shoulder butt 3, and suitable front and rear sights 4 and r5, the structure being such as to adapt the gun to betrained and sighted after the manner of'a rifle or other similar shoulder firearm, although it is to be understood that any suitable type of gun structure per se may be employed. The. bore or chamber-6 of this gun extends fromthe rear of the stock-1 to and through the barrel and may be of any suitable crosssectional form according to conditions and the form of the projectiles 7 to be used. In the present instance, however, I have shown the use of ordinary round (spherical) balls or projectiles and a bore 6 of square or other angular form in cross section. .As a result of such formation of the bore and projectiles, portions of the surfaces thereof will be free from contact (see Figure 11), thus reducing friction and wear and tear upon the gun, and also reducing heat genera- "tion and producing air passages 8 for a cooling effect. Furthermore, these passages permlt of the more ready and-convenient use of a lubricant, whereby friction, wear and tear may befurther. reduced. This app-lies also to the form of the other channels or assages through which the projectiles trave from a hopper 9, or other suitable storage chamber, to the bore 6'.

The gun ismounted so as to be both vertically and horizontally .(laterally) adjustable for training and sighting actions. To this end the stock l is rigid with a channeled guide ring 10 and is provided with depending side pieces or bracket plates 11 secured to hearing rings 12 journaled to turn upon and about bearing surfaces 13 formed upon an adjustable clamping screw 34 extending at spaced bearing members 14. These bearing members 14 form part of a supporting carriage, includin spaced pedestals 15 rojecting upward y from a bed plate 16, on which carriage the gun and guide ring are adapted to swing as a unit for tiltably adj usting the gun in a vertical plane. Formed upon the underside of the periphery of the guide ring is a rack segment 17 movable in a grooved guideway 18 upon the bed plate 16, the teeth of which rack mesh with a worm 19 on an adjusting shaft 20, mounted on said bed plate, whereby the gun may be ver tically adjusted and locked in adjusted position. The bed plate 16 rests upon a stationary supporting plate 21 carried by a base or stand 22 and isprovided with a depending stud 23 journaled in a bearing recess 24 in said supporting plate. The plates 16 and 21 constitute the relatively movable elements of a turntable on which the gun and carriage may be swun or turned to adjust the gun horizontally laterally) in either direction, the gun itself being employed as a power lever for such adjustments. The stud 23 is formed with an annular groove 25 receiving 26 on the base, whereby the turntable plate may be locked and released whenever desired. As hereinafter described, this rotary movement of the gun in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis also permits of an oscillating action of the gun for a sweeping fire in an arc of a determined radius.

Arranged to revolve within the guide ring 16 is a high-speed rotary impeller 27. This impeller consists of a ring or annulus carried by hollow or tubular spokes or frame arms 28 extending from a central hub 29 mounted upon or forming part of a shaft 30 journaled in the spaced bearing members 14. As shown, the impeller ring 27 fits snugly within the guide ring 16, and the ring 16 is formed with a discharge groove or channel 31 communicating with the rear end of the the ring 27 is provided at diametrically opposite. sides with peripheral which successively communicate, at a determined point in the path of rotation of said ring 27, with the channel 31.

Formed in and extending diametrically through the hub 29 of the impeller 27 is a re 33, and extending from the opposite ends of this bore to the respective pockets 32 are radial feed passages formed by the hollow or tubular spokes or frame arms 28. Communicating with the bore 33 is a bore right angles therefrom through one end of the shaft 30, and extending from the bottom of the hopper 9 to said bore 34 is a feed tube 35, whereby provision is made for a continuous feed by gravity of the projectiles 7 from the hopper to keep the radial conductors constantly filled each with a continuous series or column of pro- I projectiles to choke or jectiles for centrifugal discharge fromthe impeller to the groove or channel 31.

1n the operation of the gun the impeller 27 is rotated at high speed, e. g., from siX to seven thousand or more revolutions per minute, and in the rotation of said impeller, as each pocket 32 comes opposite a prescribed point in the channel 31, the projectile contained therein will be discharged by centrifugal force into said channel and outward through the bore 6 of the gun. It will be observed that the channel 31 is arranged tangentially to the periphery of the impeller 7 and eccentric to the axis thereof, and is of minimum depth at one, its rear, end and gradually increases in depth toward its 0pposite, or forward, end, which corresponds in diameter with the bore 6 and communicates with the rear end thereof. The purpose of so forming the channel 31 is to permit of the easy and gradual discharge of the projectile from the pocket 32, in such a manner that it quickly minimum to maximum velocity without objectionable fluctuations of speed and without gpinding or causing undue friction on the walls of the channel.- Any tendency of the bind, no matter how rapid their rate of discharge, is thus prevented.

In order to properly control and check the feed of the projectiles on their passage from the distributing bore 33 to the pockets 32 and channel 31, so as to avoid jamming ofthe projectiles in the conductors, or tendency of the projectiles to be propelled violently along said conductors by force in the rotation of the impeller, each conductor 28 is preferably curved provided with an offset portion, or made serpentineshaped, as shown, in order to retard the projectiles in their travel and avoid the tendency to rapid centrifugal propulsion, such as would be liable to occur if the conductors extended in a straight line, either radially or tangentially between the distributing bore and passages. By extending the conductors on a curved line the tendency of the projectiles to be thrown toward the periphery of the impeller by centrifugal force is reduced to such degree that the centrifugal feed action is just sufficient, in connection with the force of gravity, to ensure a constant, easy and regular feed of the projectiles from the hopper to the pockets. It will be observedthat the conductors 28 are offset in opposite directions to properlv balance the impeller wheel, the weight of the projectiles in one conductor being balanced by the weight of the projectiles in the other conductor, thus overcoming any resistance which might otherwise be caused thereby to the operation of the impeller at an even and uniform rate of speed.

In order to further provide for the retention of the columns of projectiles in the conductors 28 detents 36 are provided for individually controlling the discharge of the projectiles from each conductor 28 to the cooperating pocket 32. Each of these detents consists of a pair of opposed detent pins arranged in longitudinal alinement and movable through guide openings 37 in the discharge arrives. The pins 36 are also row ,tatably mounted in openings 37 and provided at their outer ends with grooved pulleys 38 to travel upon annular track rails 39 arranged parallel with the sides of the periphery of the rotary impeller and fixedly secured to the annular guide 10. The track rails areso arranged as to normally hold the detents ininwardly projected or detaining position, but are provided at one or more points, properly related with respect to the channel 31, with outwardly offset or cam portions 40 for shifting the pulley 38 outwardly and thereby momentarily retracting the pins 36 to perinitthe outer projectile of the series to pass into the pocket 32. The offset portions 40 are comparatively short or of just sufficient extent to retract the pins for the proper amount of time to permit the foremost ball to discharge, whereupon the pulleys 38 pass therefrom on the main portions of the track rails and move the pins inwardly in advance of the next succeeding projectile to hold the same from discharge. I may provide but a single set of these detents for normally holding and releasing the projectiles at a predetermined point in the path of revolution of the rotary impeller, but, if desired, may employ a plurality of such de-' tents at proper points around the path of rotation of the impeller to positively effect and ensure the release of the foremost projectile in each conductor 28, thus securing a positive release of aprojectile from each conductor on each revolutiton of the impeller. It will be understood, therefore, that as each pocket 32 approaches the rear end of the channel 31 in the rotation of the impeller 27, the direction of the rotation of which is indicated by the arrows in Figures 1 and 3, the projectile contained in the pocket will be gradually and progressively thrown out, owing to the grad ual increasing depth of the channel 31, thus enabling the projectile to gradually attain its full velocity for discharge without liability of impedance.

The impeller may be driven by hand or motive power gearing. In Figure 2 I have shown the base 16 provided with an extension 41 to support the electric or other drive motor 42, the shaft of which may be directly coupled to the impeller shaft, as indicated at 43. I have alsoshown means for driving the impeller by hand power when desired, and also for oscillating the carriage through a determined are of movement for a sweep ing firing action of the gun. The gearing for these purposes consists of a gear member 44 on the impeller shaft, meshing with a gear 45 on a stub shaft 46 journaled on the carriage, on which stub shaft is also mounted a gear 47 meshing with a gear 48 on a combined transmission and driving shaft 49, also journaled on the carriage, and in a bracket member 50, carried thereby. The outer end of the shaft 49 is of angularor other suitable form to receive a crank. 51 whereby the impeller may be driven by hand power through the gearing above described. Loosely mounted on the shaft 49 is a gear pinion 52 meshmg witha gear pinion 53 on a shaft 54, journaled upon the carriage, which shaft 54 also carries a crank disk 55 coupled by a crank link 56 to the base plate 21, whereby when the gear 52 is fixed to the shaft 49 an oscillatory motion in a horizontal plane may be imparted to the carriage for a sweeping firing action as described. A clutch device 57 feathered to slide upon and rotate with the shaft 49, is provided for connecting the pinion 52 with and disconnecting it from said shaft. This clutch device is provided with an annularly grooved collar engaged by the forked end of a shipper lever 58. This lever is provided with a longitudinal slot 59 and transverse slots 60 and 61 intersecting the ends of said longitudinal slot for sliding and pivotal engagement with a combined fulcrum and locking pin 62 mounted on the bracket 50. The lever may be swung and slid-ably moved in one direction to bring the pin 62 into locking engagement with the end slot 60 to throw the clutch member 57 into clutching action, and may "be swung and slidably moved in the opposite direction to withdraw the pin 62 from engagement with the slot 60 and move it along the slot 59 and into engagement with the slot 61, to thereby retract the clutch member 57 and lock the lever in position to hold said clutch member retracted. A spring 63 connects the shipper lever with the bracket 50 and assists in swinging the lever to clutch retracting position and to hold the pin 62 seated in one or the other of the end slots 60 or 61. It will thus be understood that the mechanism for oscillating the gun carriage may be thrown into and out of action as occasion may require, and that when desired the gun may be fixed rigidly against oscillation by means of the locking device26.

A material and important advantage residing. in my improved gun structure is that it provides a centrifugal gun which is comtional contact between surfaces is reduced to a highly desirable degree.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a dirigible gun, a barrel, a rotary impeller provided with a feed pocketand aconductor communicating therewith, a detent controlling the feedof projectiles to said pocket, 9. trackway. concentric with said impeller, a bulged portion in said trac-kway, and awheel connected to said detent and bearing upon said trackway.

2. In a dirigible gun, a rotary impeller having a conductor for projectiles, a pair of detents arranged in the walls of said impeller and having their inner ends normally disposed in the path of projectiles in said conductor, trackways arranged concentric with said impeller, grooved wheels on the outer ends of said detents and engaged with said trackways, and offset portions on said trackways, whereb the detents will be caused to be retracted when the wheels arrive in contact with said portions.

3. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casing depending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotary centrifugal impeller journalled in said casing and having an axial inlet and a peripheral outlet, and means for inter mittently discharging projectiles from the outlet of said impeller, the bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of said impeller and receiving projectiles discharged from the outlet thereof. 1

4. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casing depending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotary centrifugal impeller journalled in said casing and having an axial inlet and peripheral outlet, means for supplying projec tiles to the axial inlet of said impeller, means for intermittently discharging projectiles from the outlet of said impeller, and means for rotating said impeller, the bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of said impeller and receiving projectiles discharged from the outlet thereof.

5. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casing depending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a

rotary centrifugal impeller.journalled in said casing and having an axial inlet and peripheral outlet, means for supplying protial to the and a wheel connected to said detent 8. A shouldered'firearm gitu jectiles' to the axial inlet of charging projectiles from the outlet of said impeller, and means for rotating said impeller, the bore of said barrel being tangenperiphery of said impeller and receiving projectiles discharged from the outlet thereof. 7

6. In a firearm,,a barrel having a bore, a casing depending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotary impeller within said casing andhaving a feed pocket and a conductor communicating therewith, the

bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of said impeller, a detent controlling the feed of projectiles to said pocket, a trackway concentric with said impeller, a bulged portion in said trackway, andv a wheel connected to said detent and upon said trackway.

In a firearm, a shouldered stock, a barrel connecting said stock and having a bore, a casing depending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotary impeller within said casing and having an axial inlet and a peripheral outlet, the bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of said impeller, a detent for controlling the feed of projectiles to the axial inlet of said impeller, a trackway concentric with said impeller, abulged portion in said trackway, and bearing upon said track-way.

comprising a butt portion, a barrel portion and an intermediate portion connecting the butt and barrel portions, a circular casing depending from said intermediate portion and communicating with the bore of said barrel pdrtion, the horizontal diameter of said circular casing bem disposed in a plane parallel to the loninal axis of the firearm, the vertical side walls of said casin being spaced apart to a width less than t e width of said intermediate portion, and a centrifugal impeller within said casing for discharging projectiles through the bore of said barrel.

9. A' shouldered firearm comprising a butt portion, a barrel portion and an intermediate portion connecting the butt and barrel portions, a circular casing depending from said intermediate portion and having its horizontal diameter disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firearm, said intermediate portion having a bore connecting the bore of said barrel portion with said casing, said casing having its vertical side walls spaced apart to a width less than said impeller, automatic means for intermittently dis bearing barrel portions,

a circular casing depending from said intermediate portion and having its horizontal diameter disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firearm, said intermediate portion having a bore connecting the bore with said casing, tical side walls space of said barrel portion said casing having its verd apart to a width less JOHN H. PARSONS.

bracket plates depending from oppo- 10 a 

